Letters support and denounce Quebec education minister’s investigation into political climate at colleges

Higher Education Minister Pascale Dery comments on the encampment in support of Palestinians in Gaza on April 29, 2024. (CTV News)

Academics, students, alumni and professors have signed two separate letters — one supporting and one denouncing — Quebec Education Minister Pascale Déry’s investigation into the political climate at Dawson and Vanier colleges.

*Both letters are included in full below.

Déry defended the investigations in February, saying she’s been asking questions as that’s her role.

“We know that the climate on some campuses has visibly deteriorated. There have been complaints of harassment and intimidation. My role is to ensure that all students can develop in a healthy and safe climate,” she said.

• READ MORE: Quebec to investigate two colleges over safety complaints around Middle East conflict

Opposition parties criticized the minister saying she interfered with course content and violated academic freedoms.

‘Unprecedented’ investigation

One letter (Open letter from Jewish Faculty in Quebec) published in La Presse, which calls for the minister’s resignation, said the investigation was “unprecedented” after “confidential student complaints” that Jewish students were endangered on campus.

In addition, the letter says Déry summoned Dawson and Vanier directors general “to defend the content of two particular literature courses because they featured Palestinian authors — a shocking deviation from normal procedures and a clear violation of the government’s own principles on academic freedom.”

“These inappropriate interventions, like the investigation Déry launched in December, seem intended to silence Palestinian voices, to stifle discussion of Palestine in and out of the classroom, and to intimidate teachers and students who support Palestinian human rights — many of whom are Jewish,” the letter reads.

“Support for Palestinian human rights is not antisemitic, and we are profoundly disturbed to see the concept of antisemitism being distorted to attack academic freedom and suppress political protest. We view this as a direct threat to our ability to fight actual antisemitism in this province,” the letter reads.

The letter is signed by staff from McGill, Concordia, Dawson, UQAM, Vanier, UdeM and Marianopolis college.

‘Shock and outrage’

A response letter signed by over 700 people, including teachers, lawyers, doctors and concerned citizens, reads, “there is shock and outrage that this small group of teachers are questioning the integrity of this investigation and calling for the resignation of Education Minister Dery.”

“It appears that these teachers continue to turn a blind eye, and in some cases perhaps even (unwittingly) encourage, the lack of safety of their students,” the letter reads.

The letter says that “many Dawson students and parents submitted hundreds of official complaints to teachers, administrators and other college personnel.”

“The student union who supposedly represents all students, has actively facilitated, supported and participated in an anti-Israel strike for Palestine, which was accompanied by anti-Quebec and/or Canada protests,” the response letter reads.

“The college failed to adequately respond to serious allegations and complaints of harassment, intimidation, and incitement of hatred towards its students. Matters of its citizens’ safety and harassment/bullying fall under the protections afforded by the laws of government and an investigation is thus appropriate and required.”

The response also questions the first letter’s questioning of the content of the two literature courses that “featured Palestinian authors.”

“It was discovered that this general studies French class was offered but the course subject and title were NOT displayed and was added only after registration, as being a Palestinian literature and history course,” it reads. “Furthermore, no customary materials, such as French grammar texts were included. The signatories seem to prioritize their right to freedom of course material selection over safe discussions where both sides are presented.”

The second letter is signed by people associated with Concordia and McGill Universities, UQAM, UdeM, Dawson, Vanier and other colleges.